Cephalosporins are a sub-class of beta -lactam antibiotics that are classified in generations, with later generations having expanded spectra against aerobic Gram-negative bacilli (4). Ceftiofur is a third generation cephalosporin antibiotic developed exclusively for veterinary use. It has been approved worldwide for treatment of respiratory disease in swine, cattle, sheep, goats and horses, and has also been approved for foot rot and mastitis in cattle (5). Ceftiofur has also been approved in various countries for early mortality infections in day-old chicks and turkey poults. It is bactericidal in vitro, and inhibits cell wall synthesis (6). Ceftiofur is rapidly converted to both free and protein bound metabolites when administered by intramuscular injection, and the free metabolites retain antimicrobial activity. Ceftiofur has been reported to have more complex metabolism than other cephalosporins, due to the cleavage of its thioester bond to yield desfuroylceftiofur and furoic acid (6). Ceftiofur is used extensively in veterinary medicine and its use in food producing animals could result in potentially harmful concentrations in tissue, organs and milk. The potential risk is reduced by withdrawal of the drug for a fixed period before slaughter, although residual levels may remain.
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